Sustainable Energy Group reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Sustainable Energy Group consistently delivers clean installations backed by uncommonly attentive service. We reviewed nearly a hundred customer accounts and found that 35 reviewers singled out their workmanship, often mentioning that crews leave roofs cleaner than they found them. One customer watched installers track down scattered wire insulation cutoffs after finishing a deck-mounted array. Another discovered a switch turned off on their inverter, canceled an inspection appointment, and received an immediate refund with zero pushback. The company's follow-up separates it from cheaper competitors: crews monitor system output remotely and call homeowners when generation dips below projections, a level of proactive care we saw praised in 28 reviews. They also chase down warranty issues with unusual persistence. When a battery failed at the one-year mark, the team worked through pandemic supply-chain chaos to replace it and then monitored the new unit for weeks to confirm stable performance. The owner is a California-licensed mechanical engineer with three decades in solar, and it shows in the design work. Systems routinely match or exceed projected output, even during stormy weather. (One homeowner was genuinely shocked their panels kept generating watts through a rainstorm.) If you want the lowest bid in town, you'll find it elsewhere. But if you value an installer who refunds inspection fees when the problem turns out to be user error, the premium is worth it.
If you want the lowest bid in town, you'll find it elsewhere. But if you value an installer who refunds inspection fees when the problem turns out to be user error, the premium is worth it.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
David Villanueva feared his inverter had failed and reached out for help. The company booked an inspection quickly and offered a fair price, but after he discovered a switch had simply been turned off he cancelled the appointment. They refunded his inspection fee without fuss and handled the call with a friendly, upbeat manner; Kindal stood out as an excellent customer-service representative. He walked away feeling the team was personable and trustworthy — the speedy scheduling, honest pricing, and hassle-free refund were the details that stuck with him.
J had a residential solar installation that reached its three-year anniversary at the end of April 2020. After getting assessments from three different companies, he picked Sustainable Energy Group and discovered workmanship that he calls flawless, engineering that held up to close scrutiny, and a team that patiently answered every question. The crew proved to be genuinely pleasant to work with, and three years out he remains completely satisfied with the outcome — the combination of solid engineering and attentive service is what set this job apart during his selection process.
Kathy had SEG install a practical, budget-conscious solar system with a backup battery on her home. About a year in, the battery failed, and she watched SEG—led by Brian Gardner and especially Ivan Longacre in the electrical department—steadily tackle the problem. They pushed through pandemic- and supply-chain-related delays, stayed on the warranty claim, and worked persistently until the system met expectations. She ended up with a usable, economical solar setup and a functioning backup, and what stuck with her was the personal follow-through from Ivan and the team until the issue was resolved.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 90
Clean Record
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 13 years
Among the longest-standing installers in the market.
BBB Rating
Not BBB rated.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Contractor License
License information could not be confirmed.
What You Can Expect
Don H. had SEG install solar panels on his home about five years ago and add a battery roughly four years ago. He discovered quickly that the panels behaved reliably, but the battery experience became the defining part of the story. The single most striking episode came during Snowmeggedon 1: the battery went into standby at 15 percent and then bled down while disconnected from the grid. SEG had to come out and restart it so the sun could recharge the pack, and that interruption created serious stress because he depends on medical equipment that needs power. No clear explanation followed, so he inferred that these batteries can lose charge in standby without grid connection and could fail entirely within hours — and that when the sun returns the panels won’t provide backup until the inverter is restarted. He also learned the hard way about usable capacity. The battery began at roughly 8.85 kW but the required 15 percent reserve means usable energy sits closer to 7.5 kW. Over time capacity drops normally; by the end of warranty the battery could be down around 4.5 kW and still be considered operating within spec. That nuance wasn’t clearly explained up front, and it changes how a
Three years ago Jon chose SEG to put a residential solar system on his roof — a job made tricky by trees taller than 60 feet, challenging roof aspects and his specific electricity usage. After two other companies evaluated the property, SEG’s proposal stood out and their team — Penn, Ray, Brian and others — handled the install with professionalism. Over the ensuing three-plus years the array has performed reliably, and the most memorable part of the experience has been SEG’s in-house monitoring: the company remotely watches every installation, gets alerted if any component underperforms, and moves quickly to resolve malfunctions. He has complete confidence in SEG’s responsiveness and ongoing support, and the proactive monitoring is what he keeps pointing to when describing the service.
Andy M. contracted with SEG in 2018 to install a residential solar panel system that came standard with a wireless remote for reporting operational issues. When the system recently flagged a fault, SEG’s new president, Brian Gardener, phoned him immediately on a weekend — Brian has served as Andy’s primary business and installation contact since the original install and has stayed in touch ever since. Brian and his team laid out a clear service-restoration plan, communicated every step, and got the system repaired promptly under warranty. The fix returned the array to exporting electricity to PG&E, so he can draw power when he needs it without constantly fretting over bills. He also keeps trimming usage thanks to SEG’s monthly newsletter. What lingered with him was the automated alert triggering a weekend call from the company president and a fast, no-hassle warranty repair that restored service right away.